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This only covers
conventional cameras as I know nothing about digital cameras. I use a scanner
to get stuff on this page. The way I take my photos is with a SLR (Single Leans
Reflex) camera with removable lenses. This means that a variety of lenses can
be fitted making it possible to take photos in many different circumstances
and what you see through the viewfinder is what you get on the photo. I've used
three types of accessories to photograph my models. The first and simplest is
a close up lens which fits (screws in my case) on the end of the normal lens
in the same way as a colour filter. This is the easiest attachment to fit. With
this lens depending on it's properties you can take reasonably close up pictures
of the models. Close up lenses can have a slightly fish eyeing effect as with
a magnifying glass. The second type of attachments I use is a focal length adapter.
This attaches between the standard camera lens and the camera body. There are
different sizes of focal length adapters and the longer the adapter the closer
you can take photos from. There's no possibility of distorting effects
when using these. The last accessory I use is a telephoto converter, which also
fits between the camera body and the cameras ordinary lens. I have is a 2X magnifier
(there may be other types) which means that the photos look like they are taken
from h
alf the distance
they actually are. The telephoto adapter is not only useful for model photography
but works on anything. One thing to remember when using telephoto lenses is
that the thing you're shooting is at twice the distance that the camera thinks
and if you're using flashes they need to be adjusted accordingly. All the accessories
above can be combined together and I did once take a photo of a citadel space
marine dreadnoughts fist which is about 6 mm/1/4" across and it took up most
of the photo at about 5 cm 2". This is only useful if you want real BIG pictures
of something, but it will show up all the defects that are to small for you
to see normally.
If you don't have any of the adapters above you can still get pictures but
you can't get really close. With a SLR you can tell what is the minimum distance
because the viewfinder will blur, but if you have an auto focus camera it may
take a bit of trial and error. Also with an auto camera you can't adjust aperture
and sometimes if doesn't focus in quite the right place. A word about film and
technique. Use the slowest film possible, I use 100 ASA because it's readily
available but 64 ASA can be better if you've got good light. When shooting use
the highest aperture (F stop) setting possible because this will give the best
depth of field. If you don't have really good lighting it might be hard to get
high apertures without underexposing. ALWAYS use a tripod because it will allow
the lower shutter speeds necessary for using high apertures with slow films
and use a cable shutter release so you don't shake the camera when it's taking
long exposure shots (like anything under 1/15 second). Finally read books or
magazines because anyone can put up any old crap on the net but people have
to be good if they're going to get published.
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